South Dakota: Do you need an ID to vote?
South Dakota asks voters for photo ID, but a voter without one can sign an identity affidavit and vote a regular ballot.
Accepted IDs are a South Dakota driver's license or nondriver ID card, a U.S. passport or other U.S. government photo ID, a tribal photo ID, or a current photo student ID from a South Dakota high school or accredited college. A voter without one of these may sign a personal identification affidavit giving their name and address, under penalty of perjury, and vote at the polls. Nothing more is needed after Election Day.
Conditions
- Accepted photo ID, or a signed personal identification affidavit
What the law says
If a voter is not able to present a form of personal identification as required by § 12-18-6.1, the voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, prescribing the form of the affidavit. The affidavit shall require the voter to provide his or her name and address. The voter shall sign the affidavit under penalty of perjury.
Sources
- SDCL 12-18-6.1 Official · sdlegislature.gov
- SDCL 12-18-6.2 Official · sdlegislature.gov
- South Dakota Secretary of State, Election FAQs Official · sdsos.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- South Dakota Secretary of State, Division of Elections
- Phone
- 605-773-3537
- Website
- sdsos.gov
How bordering states compare
- Iowa ID required, non-photo acceptedIowa requires ID at the polls. A free non-photo Voter ID card counts, and a voter with no ID may vote provisionally.
- Minnesota No ID document requiredMinnesota voters who are already registered don't show ID. They sign the polling place roster.
- Montana Photo ID requestedMontana asks in-person voters for photo ID. Without it, a voter casts a provisional ballot, which the statute counts when the signature matches.
- Nebraska Photo ID requestedNebraska requires photo ID, but voters who can't get one can sign a reasonable impediment form at the polls instead.
- North Dakota ID required, non-photo acceptedNorth Dakota requires voters to show an ID with name, North Dakota address and birth date. The accepted IDs include some without photos.
- Wyoming ID required, non-photo acceptedWyoming requires ID to vote in person; the list includes non-photo Medicare and Medicaid cards through 2029.
All 50 states for this question · Other topics in South Dakota